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Traffic study focuses on busiest intersection

A traffic study designed to cut congestion at the city’s busiest intersection has been launched by the city.

A public information session will be held Thursday at city hall to receive comments and feedback on about 14 possibilities ranging from extending Sackville Road to changing traffic signal timing along the route, said Carl Rumiel, design and construction engineer with the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

The traffic study, which will also include an active transportation component, will cost $40,000.

“A traffic operations review determined that the current traffic conditions including heavy congestion and delays in the vicinity of Second Line and Great Northern Road will continue to worsen in the future as more development occurs in the city,” Rumiel said.

The study, which is different from an Environmental Assessment, will examine the intersection itself and alternatives that could help relieve the traffic pressure in the area, he said.

One alternative being examined is the extension of Sackville Road and developing connection to the Industrial Crescent, he said.

Signal timing, developing an active transportation route (cycling) in the area and improving the geometry of the Second Line and Old Garden River Road intersection will also be looked at, he said.

Potential recommendations, in draft form, will be presented for review at a later time, Rumiel said.

This traffic study is just getting underway and will start with receiving input from users, area businesses and other stakeholders, he said.

“There are some preliminary ideas for opportunities and solutions and as the study moves forward they will be refined or new ones will develop,” he said.

The study will also update the decade-old Cycling Master Plan for that area.

Avid cyclist Andre Riopel has urged city council to include a multi-lane path on the north side of Second Line. He argues the path would be welcome by cyclists, by those using mobility devices and by the neighbourhoods in general.

City staff has said that a better active transportation route might be Northern Avenue. Less vehicular traffic and traffic itself would be slower moving, creating a safer route.

The Cycling Master Plan ensures that design considerations are incorporated in all roads and destinations within the community to make the city cycling friendly. That plan was updated in 2007 and recommends the consideration of paved shoulders and/or bike lanes on roads identified as a cycling route.

A separate Environmental Assessment study is examining Northern Avenue between North Street and Pine Street. It is also looking alternatives into the P-patch area.

Rumiel said the city will ensure that the two studies align with each other.

Several years ago the city extended Third Line East in order to help move west-end traffic towards the new Sault Area Hospital. While that extension may have also reduced traffic at the Second Line intersection, its purpose was to ensure traffic could flow easily to the hospital, Rumiel said.

This Second Line and Great Northern Road traffic study is expected to wrap up and have final recommendations presented to city council in the spring.

The public information session is set Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Russ Ramsay board room. City staff and consultants will be on hand to discuss the project.

To obtain more information on the project contact Carl Rumiel at 705-759-5379 or email c.rumiel@cityssm.on.ca .